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Rating: 9.4/10

Overall Series Rating: 9.7/10

Impressions:

So the ending plays out like how I predicted, except for how Shouko doesn’t return home, and instead ends up with Hiro. I still think she should have returned home for that ‘perfect’ round about scenario, since this show is really about a ’summer story’ that is meant to go away when summer ends. The quality of this last episode is slightly lower as well, and the actual wrap up is nothing special. In the end though, it’s still a good episode. Asatte no Houkou is definitely an anime I’d recommend, and I won’t go over again why I love this anime so much as I have done so numerous times before in previous posts.

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Popularity: 15% [?]

Rating: 9.6/10

Impressions:

I’m not even going to try and find any bad points about this show. It’s way too good to belittle. If there are any faults with the story, it’s due to the lack of time (next episode is the last) and also because the manga hasn’t finished yet. I wouldn’t notice it though, as I’ve gotten to the stage of simply enjoying this show while I can, and anything wrong with it will be conveniently overlooked. Regardless, this has definitely been one of my favourites of the spring season, alongside Kanon, Negima!? and Code Geass. I would also like to say that Karada, Kotomi and Shouko are all very cute in this episode. Shouko’s ‘leaning-against’window’ is incredibly kawaii, especially as she has her hair down. Kotomi is her usual attractive and playful self, while Karada’s ‘what-should-I-do?’ expressions still astounds me at how moe it is. I’m surprised Tetsu is still hung over loli Karada so strongly. But I guess it is normal for people to be attracted to others of their own age. In his eyes, adult Karada might be hot, but she’d be too mature for him (even though we in the audience probably think they make a good pair).

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Popularity: 8% [?]

Rating: 9.5/10

Impressions:

Oh no, this series will end in two episodes? That’s bad, it should be a 26 episode series…But since it’s been so great from episode one until now, perhaps making it short and sweet is for the better. There’s still quite a bit of resolving to do, and ultimately I still believe that Karada and Shouko will return to normal. Shouko leaving is quite convenient, as I believe she will return to her city and change back to normal there. I can already imagine her waking up in her apartment one day to find herself back in her original body. Same for Karada; she will probably go back to Hiro and revert back to normal. This is sort of hinted every episode by the notion of the series being Shouko’s and Karada’s “story” which happened one summer. If it really is a story which occurred over a summer, it should be safe to assume that everything goes back to normal at the end of summer. But then again, there is always the possibility of them staying the same. I think the whole series is about learning your lesson in life, and getting such a drastic change to your life without reverting back to normal defeats that whole purpose. I’m also very tempted to go read a blog about the last episode, but I think I can resist it for now…

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Popularity: 9% [?]

Rating: 9.5/10

Impressions:

After such a touching episode last time, can this follow-up match it? Apparently not, but it’s almost as good. Karada looked a bit funny some of the times (I’m talking about how her face is drawn) but that’s ok, the feeling’s still there. Sure, the ending is a bit convenient, how Kotomine takes Tetsu to her teacher’s house, which coincidentally is the place where Karada is working. However, it does set the next episode up really well, and finally Kotomine might actually get to know some more of the main cast. I’m also surprised Tetsu is taller than her. He is only 12; Kotomine is what, in high school? Middle school? I dunno, it just seems weird. I’m glad she got some screen time this episode. She is the most energetic character in the show, and the most enjoyable to watch. She also needs to spend some time with Shouko, since that’s the original pairing. Shouko shows that she cares for Karada quite a lot this episode, and perhaps has accepted her as a close friend or sister.

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Popularity: 7% [?]

Rating: 9.9/10

Impressions:

I can’t believe this series is STILL getting better. You’d have thought it’s reached its peak, which it won’t touch again until the finale, but it looks like the ride will be thrilling until the very end. Now wait, how many episodes is this again? The episode count seems to have been removed from ANN, and it’s not on AnimeNFO. Well, at least the last time I checked (today). It does, however, say on Wikipedia that it will consist of 12 episodes. If that’s the case, then I doubt there will be a break in the plot from now for ‘recuperation’ time. Anyway, the best part of this episode is of course the flashback. It’s so touching T_T and the song is beautiful. Actually, you can download it here:

[Kasa] by Suara – Full version mp3 (9.81mb)

We find out that Karada’s parents, the ones that she knows, aren’t her real parents, though Hiro is their real son (I think). The entire flashback is so beautifully done; the scenes of death, Hiro’s eventual appearance, it is all just so stunningly good.

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Popularity: 9% [?]

Rating: 9.5/10

Impressions:

Ack another horribly late entry, but I’m trying my best to catch up with all the series I’m blogging. In the meantime: Asatte no Houkou! And what an amazing show it is, for it’s become one of my favourites now. Oh, who am I kidding, it has always been one of my favourites. I simply love the beautiful art and character design; both Shouko and Karada are getting cuter every episode! I can’t believe how moe Karada is when she’s trying on Shouko’s old clothes. Shouko’s attempts at helping with the cooking screamed kawaii too. Speaking of her cooking, it’s hard to believe that a girl like her, equivalent to some 20 years of age, doesn’t even know how to melt butter. Or sift flour. Or slice strawberries. The burnt turkey is reasonable, though everything else is highly unrealistic. However, it does contain significant symbolism that not everyone would’ve picked up. Shouko, while still having lingering desires for Hiro, has grown quite attached to Karada, as shown by her automatic indication that Karada is her friend.

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Popularity: 7% [?]

Rating: 9.2/10

Impressions:

The mood has suitably changed to a light and cheerful one after the initial shock that arises from the age swap phenomenon. The watercolour backgrounds, bright settings and constant use of streaming sunrays turns this slice-of-life/drama into a fantastic feel-good episode. It was vastly enjoyable, though this new mood is bound to deteriorate back into drama before long. I suspect it will start falling in terms of mood in the next few episodes, falling into a deeply depressing tragedy, before rising again for the finale. At least, that’s what I hope will happen. This happy-type of episode is good and all, but it can’t sustain interest if this is all that happens for the rest of the series; following the main characters around, cycling through their different lifestyles and such. A romance should also develop, and I’m really hoping for Tetsu and Karada, despite their large age difference. They’re the same height anyway, and you wouldn’t be able to tell that they’re probably 10 years apart in age. Currently, my feelings are inconveniently tangled regarding whether or not Karada and Shouko should return to their initial lives. Karada would turn out for the better that way, having experienced adulthood and matured vastly, though Shouko would be plunged back into her depression and hard life (or so it seems). Since last episode, Shouko has accustomed to her new life and finally made some friends (though she denies this, I’m sure the kids she played with would allow her to join in again).

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Popularity: 10% [?]

Impressions:

I’m not sure what it is about this show but it never fails to entertain me and keep me interested. The age swapping incident seems to have been completely forgotten now, since everyone is quite comfortably accustomed to their new lives. Karada has gotten mighty used to cooking and cleaning, doing trivial chores and taking care of everyone in the household. Likewise, Shouko, though initially felt irritated for being treated like a child (let’s not forget her mind is still of an adult’s), has finally warmed up to conscience and persuaded herself to join in the fun with all the other kids. I would really like to see Shouko in class though, if she ever goes to school. How old is she meant to be now? If she’s the same age as the kids she was playing with, she most definitely is younger than Karada before the change. Now this leads to how old Karada is now. Even though her mind is that of a child’s, her body should be fully functional as a woman, which means she could fall in love with someone any time now. And that’s probably what’s going to happen. It will definitely spice things up. Tetsu is far too young to do anything to her, though he does look older. The other candidate would be Hiro. They’re not even related, are they, or are they cousins? Even so, I hear that it’s not that abnormal for cousins to get married in Japan…

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Popularity: 7% [?]